Imagine leaving your home in the morning and walking to meet a friend – and along the way “virtual signposts” lead you to your destination. Sound like science fiction? It’s really more like science fact, since the idea is actually, reality.

Augmented reality is the process whereby software applications apply graphics over a real environment. Earthmine gives you the tools to make your own AR.

The technology is already being used in smartphone augmented reality apps like Wikitude. And even more recently for Google Glasses, which offer the wearer the chance to see a virtual information overlay from his own point of view. The technology uses either a graphic or an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) tag to trigger the AR overlay.

The Coolest Tech You’ve Never Heard Of
Augmented reality is probably the coolest technology you’ve never heard of, although the technology has been in use for a couple of years now. Topps uses the technology to power virtual baseball cards, while Nintendo uses the technology in Nintendo 3DS card games – that pit virtual video-game characters against each other.

As a technology, augmented reality has multiple uses, like entertainment and education, just to name a few. The most recent entrant into the augmented reality game is Google though, whose Google Glasses, “help you explore and share your world.” Google Glasses actually have the potential to be an iPhone killer, taking the smartphone to the next level.

The technology puts virtual reality within reach of consumers, who before could only experience it using multi-million dollar hardware setups.

Making a Virtual World
As our real world becomes increasingly connected to the digital one, leading app developers who find ways to implement augmented-reality components into their apps will rule the roost. Using augmented reality just think of all the cool things you can do with app development for iPhone and iPad - maps of the sky that tell you where satellites and planets are, or where you can find a good coffee or yogurt place. One thing is definitely for sure: augmented reality is the future.